Getting Ready

The capital of France and strategically placed on the river Seine, Paris has been an important political, religious and cultural center for centuries. First settled by the Parisii people in 300 BC, it was conquered by the Romans in 55 BC and became a flourishing city. The Franks followed the Romans, and renamed the city Paris. During the Middle Ages, under Frankish rule, Paris was divided into areas of activity that are still largely intact: government and church institutions on the central islands (where masterpieces such as Notre Dame and Sainte-Chapelle were erected); scholastic centers on the Left Bank (where the Sorbonne was founded); and commerce and trade on the right bank.

The Hundred Year's War (1337-1453) and occupation by England left the city in ruins. King Louis XI brought back prosperity, and during the Renaissance, Paris re-emerged as a major center of culture. In the 17th Century, the city grew enormously in wealth and power. Louis XIV, the "Sun King," helped create the modern state, and spent lavishly on the arts and architecture, but his extravagance and constant waging of war nearly bankrupted the country.

The Enlightenment, a period of scientific reason and critical thought, began in the early 18th century and was centered in Paris. The arts thrived, but Enlightenment thinkers' new ideas about society were dangerous to the monarchy. In 1789, angry citizens stormed the king's prison (the Bastille). This was the start of the French Revolution. The Republic was founded three years later, but the Reign of Terror soon followed, when those suspected of loyalty to the monarchy were executed. Napoleon Bonaparte, a brilliant general in the French army, seized power and named himself Emperor in 1804, but his control was always tenuous. The monarchy resumed power, only to be overthrown by a second revolution in 1848. Napoleon's nephew, Napoleon III, assumed power by a coup d'etat in 1851. The city underwent a massive renovation under his reign – he entrusted the task to Baron Haussmann, who created the wide avenues and neoclassic facades of modern Paris.

In 1870, long-standing tensions between France and Germany led to the short but dramatic Franco-Prussian War, which ended with the devastating Siege of Paris in 1871. With peace came a new government, the Third Republic, and Paris made a rapid recovery. The era that followed was known as the Belle Epoque (beautiful age), when the Art Nouveau style was developed, major exhibitions were held, and the Impressionists and Cubists hailed a new modernism.

During WWI, heavy fighting occurred along the eastern border of France, but Paris was spared from German invasion. From the 1920's to the 1940s, Paris became a mecca for avant-garde artists, musicians and writers. The city was occupied by Germany in WWII, but avoided major damage because of its cultural significance. After the war, Paris experienced an expansion second only to the Belle Epoque. A program of renovation began in the 1960s, leading to the improvement of historic districts and monuments, and the building of bold modern structures like the Pompidou Center. Today, Paris is one of the world's major global cities.

Parisian Chic: A Style Guide by Ines de la Fressange

Celebrity model Inès de la Fressange shares the well-kept secrets of how Parisian women maintain effortless glamour and a timeless allure. Inès de la Fressange—France’s icon of chic—shares her personal tips for living with style and charm, gleaned from decades in the fashion industry.

My Father's Glory and My Mother's Castle

Marcel Pagnol's Memories of Childhood.  Buy now

A Moveable Feast

This slim volume of memoirs captures the essence of Parisian cafe society circa 1925. Hemingway includes sharp, memorable portraits of Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and others idling their way to greatness.  Buy now

Travelers' Tales France

A wonderful collection of mostly contemporary anecdotes, including such marvelous authors as Peter Mayle, M.F.K. Fisher, Mort Rosenblum, Ina Caro and Jan Morris. Organized thematically, it's a good introduction to the history, culture and character of France. Buy now

The Seven Ages of Paris

Personifying the City of Light as a woman, Horne paints an affectionate, opinionated and vivid portrait. The book tells the story of Paris from her founding to the present day, capturing the fabric of life at each age and the great men who helped lead her through invasions and liberations.
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The Age of Napoleon

This brief, lively biography focuses on the nonmilitary and domestic aspects of Napoleon’s life and times. An astute observer of French culture, Horne places the famous dictator in an illuminating social context. Buy now

The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette

This first-person account of France’s infamous queen blends fact and fiction to create a colorful and highly readable story. Spanning the years from her marriage at 14 to her death by guillotine in 1793, the diary reveals the resilience and humanity beneath Marie’s frivolous exterior. Buy now

The Secret Life of Josephine: Napoleon's Bird of Paradise

Written in the first person, this account of Napoleon’s legendary first wife takes some liberties with facts, but offers a compelling portrait of a dynamic woman. Following Josephine from her humble beginnings, through revolutions, civil war and her brief marriage to the emperor, Erickson paints her as a woman ahead of her time. Buy now

France

These books make history entertaining for kids by leaving in the gruesome parts. This volume contains such cheerful topics as famines and the guillotine, as well as odd facts like the king who thought he was made of glass. Buy now

The Little Prince

Beloved by millions, this modern fable was first published in 1943. It tells of a charmingly naive extraterrestrial who wanders from planet to planet, gaining wisdom as he goes. Buy now

Linnea in Monet's Garden

A gentle and lovely introduction to art and the work of Monet. Linnea and her neighbor frolic in Monet's garden at Giverny and look at Impressionist paintings in Paris. Buy now

Monuments that Tell Stories of Paris

Filled with beautiful line drawings, this children’s guide brings the histories of Paris’ famous landmarks to life. Buy now

Marie Antoinette, Princess of Versailles

In this diary, the future queen of France tells of her life at the Habsburg palace in Austria. She is almost of marrying age, and the future holds many exciting possibilities. Buy now

Mary, Queen of Scots, Queen Without a Country

The fictionalized first-person account of eleven-year-old Mary. Separated from her mother at four, betrothed at five, living abroad but longing for Scotland, the ill-fated queen chronicles 16th-century life in the royal French court. Buy now

The Scarlet Pimpernel

It’s the Reign of Terror in revolutionary France, and the guillotines are hard at work. This rip-roaring classic tells of the man known as the Scarlet Pimpernel – foppy English lord by day and daring genius by night – who saves innocents from the guillotine’s blade. Buy now

The Three Musketeers

Your kids won’t be able to put down this French favorite about young D'Artagnan, who goes to Paris to join the King’s Musketeers, and meets the heroic trio who lives by the motto “All for One, and One for All.” Buy now

My Father’s Glory (1990)

Based on an autobiographical novel by Marcel Pagnol, it tells the story of a young boy growing up in turn-of-the-century France. On vacation with his family in Provence, he admires his uncle’s woodsmanship. His father challenges the uncle to a shooting match to regain the boy’s respect. In French with English subtitles. Buy now

My Mother’s Castle (1990)

In the sequel to My Father’s Glory, Marcel and his family return to Provence. To shorten their journey, they take a shortcut across private estates, where they meet a number of eccentric characters. When they are accused of trespassing, the father’s job as a schoolteacher is threatened. In French with English subtitles. Buy now

Le Grand Chemin (1987)

9-year-old Louis is sent to the country for the summer while his mother has her baby. He befriends the ten-year-old girl next door, and through her, learns about love, sex and religion and death. In French with English subtitles.

A Little Romance (1979)

In her film debut, Lane stars as Lauren King, a rich American 13-year-old living in Paris. She finds a soul mate in a poor but charming French boy – when her parents object, they run off to Venice to kiss under the “Bridge of Sighs,” aided by Julius, an aging pickpocket. Buy now

Charade (1963)

At the beginning of this suspenseful thriller, Regina Lambert discovers her husband has been murdered, his money (much of which he stole) is gone, several parties are interested in the money, and they all assume Regina knows where it is. Peter, a man she met on holiday, offers to help her, but she doesn’t know whom to trust, and nothing is as it seems. Buy now

Gigi (1958)

Set in turn-of-the-century Paris, this musical tells the story of jaded playboy Gaston, who enjoys a platonic friendship with tomboy Gigi. When Gigi grows into a woman, Gaston falls in love – but Gigi’s relatives have educated her become a rich man’s mistress, and suggest that Gaston become her provider. Buy now

Sabrina (1954)

Bogie and Holden are the mega-rich Larrabee brothers of Long Island. Bogie's all work, Holden's all playboy. But when Sabrina, daughter of the family's chauffeur, returns from Paris all grown up and glamorous, the stage is set for some family fireworks as the brothers fall under the spell of Hepburn's delightful charms. Buy now

An American in Paris (1951)

In this classic musical, Jerry, a struggling American artist living in Paris, is discovered by an heiress who wants more than his talent. Meanwhile, Jerry falls for a French girl who’s already engaged. The romantic entanglements are played out in show-stopping dance numbers set to Gershwin tunes. Buy now

Ratatouille (2007)

In this comedy, a rat named Remy dreams of becoming a great chef despite his family’s wishes and the obvious problem of being a rat in a decidedly rodent-phobic profession. When fate places Remy in the city of Paris, he finds himself ideally situated beneath a restaurant made famous by his culinary hero, Auguste Gusteau. Buy now

The Triplets of Belleville (2003)

When her grandson is kidnapped during the Tour de France, Madame Souza and her beloved pooch Bruno team up with the Belleville Sisters--an aged song-and-dance team from the days of Fred Astaire--to rescue him. Buy now

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996)

Inspired by Victor Hugo's classic novel, Disney brings the heroic adventures of Quasimodo, the gentle and lonely bell ringer of Notre Dame, to spectacular life. This critically acclaimed Disney masterpiece is an uplifting, thrilling story with a touching message that emerges from the comedy and songs. Buy now

The Da Vinci Code (2006)

Based on the best-selling novel, this film follows Harvard professor Robert and cryptographer Neve as they try to untangle the mysterious death of Neve’s uncle at the Louvre. The clues to his murder, and the secret society to which he belonged, lie in the works of Leonardo da Vinci.
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Le Grand Voyage (2004)

A few weeks before his college entrance exams, Reda, a young man who lives in the south of France, finds himself obligated to drive his father 3,000 miles on his spiritual hajj to Mecca. From France, through Italy, Serbia, Turkey, Syria, Jordan to Saudi Arabia, the two will embark on a road trip to Mecca that will change their lives. Winner - Venice Film Festival. In French and Arabic with English subtitles. Buy now

Amelie (2001)

When beautiful loner Amelie finds a box of treasures hidden in her baseboard and returns it secretly to its owner, she is inspired to more acts of anonymous kindness – but what she really needs is to learn how to connect. Quirky and charming, this film is a celebration of the little joys of life. Buy now

French Kiss (2000)

When her fiancé is smitten by a beautiful Frenchwoman, Kate flies to Paris determined to win him back.  A self-proclaimed expert on affairs of the heart, Luc promises to help Kate win back her man. But one star-crossed misadventure after another sweeps them across France, ultimately changing them in ways they never dreamed possible. Buy now

Chocolat (2000)

Nobody could have imagined the impact that the striking Vianne would make when she arrived in a tranquil, old-fashioned French town. In her very unusual chocolate shop, Vianne begins to create mouth-watering confections that almost magically inspire the strailaced villagers to abandon themselves to temptation and happiness! Buy now

Parisians are fashion conscious. Their style is best described as casual chic – informal, but sophisticated. Khakis and polo shirts are always a better choice than jeans and t-shirts for the boys.

Few restaurants require a jacket and tie with the exception of the more traditional haute-cuisine places.

It can rain at any time of the year, so bring rain gear.